Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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WEST JORDAN -- It happens on the playground, in the lunchroom, in the hallway - kids bullying others, even as young as kindergarten. But experts and kids say many bullies don't realize they are doing it and many victims don't feel empowered enough to stop it.
One school in West Jordan has made it a mission to face this head-on. It's in their whole slogan and day-to-day life: Be a buddy, not a bully.
Broxsten Salguero has been bullied.
"It feels terrible."
It's mostly name-calling.
"I try to ignore it. I know it's not true. I try to leave it alone."
The worst is feeling all alone in a sea of other kids.
"It feels like you don't want to do anything anymore when people threaten you."
Kyle Robinson has a wish. "I'm hoping that people will learn to stop bullying and be nice to everybody."
But kids sometimes are not nice. On the playground, they may call names or hit. Or at lunch, they may not sit by another child, even in kindergarten.
It feels like you don't want to do anything anymore when people threaten you.
–Broxsten Salguero
"They leave people out not knowing it is actually bullying," said Sherilyn Joosten, school ambassador and advisor at Falcon Ridge Elementary School. Its school slogan, "Be a buddy not a bully," is written on every door and in every classroom.
Student ambassadors demonstrate bullying and what to do about it through skits. Joosten says when they started this program two years ago, bullying dropped dramatically.
"The school climate here is like nothing else. They are there for each other; they don't allow the bullying to happen. It makes the school feel safe," Joosten said. Sandy Greenwood has three children at Falcon Ridge, and she volunteers with the Safe School Ambassador Program.
"I think our bullying training is more friendship training. Be a friend to the victim," she said. Twelve-year-old Broxsten says no one came to help him when he was bullied, but as a student ambassador he looks out for others.
"They feel relieved when they know you are by their side," he said.
And there are plenty of students trying to do just that, like fourth grader Chelsea Guevara.
"The children know that there's someone looking out for them," she said.
Sixth grader Christopher Soderquist said, "Most kids nowadays walk by and notice it. Us safe school ambassadors look for it so we can get rid of it."
- Intentional
- One-sided
- Repeated
Fifth grader Kyle Robinson said, "If I see bullying I tell the person that they need to stop."
Kyle also knows he shouldn't be a bully, though he says he sometimes bullies his younger brothers at home. His mom, Korene Robinson, says at school and at home, kids have to learn empathy.
"They are learning not to treat others that way, no matter where they are," she said.
"The students are the keys in influencing the culture at the schools. Empower them. They can step in and make a difference," Joosten said.
Listen to part 2 of this series Friday morning on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
